Friends And Old Foes Lining Up To Support Patric Verrone’s State Senate Bid

Former WGA West President Patric Verrone’s campaign for a seat in the California Senate is getting support from a wide range of fellow writers – including the backing of guild candidates he once campaigned against. Verrone, who led the contentious 2007-08 writers strike, has been something of a lightning rod for those who opposed the walkout. But that hasn’t prevented some of his old foes from throwing their support to him now. John Wells, who defeated Verrone for WGA president in 2009, now is supporting Verrone for the state Senate. And Kathy Kiernan, who Verrone defeated for the guild’s presidency in 2007, is now supporting him too.

“I’m getting support from writers in all economic strata, from new entry-level writers to showrunners,” Verrone told Deadline, “and I am especially grateful for the support from WGA members with whom I have not always seen eye to eye politically in the past. These are colleagues and friends for many years who feel the same way I do about keeping Hollywood jobs in Hollywood and fighting for the middle class.”

Verrone, who says he has the support for his candidacy from “every current member” of the WGA West’s board of directors, also has picked up the endorsements of current guild President Chris Keyser and negotiating committee co-chairs Billy Ray and Chip Johannessen. Clearly, no matter what their feelings about the strike, many writers and guild leaders understand that having Verrone in the Senate campaigning to keep film and television production in Los Angeles will be good for writers.

Other writers lining up to support Verrone in his tight primary race to represent California’s 26th District include Judd Apatow, Seth MacFarlane, Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner, Parks And Recreation creator Greg Daniels, Twilight screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg, The Simpsons writers Al Jean and Ian Maxtone-Graham, The Closer and Major Crimes writer and executive producer James Duff, Night At The Museum scribe Robert Ben Garant and Family Guy producer David A. Goodman.

7 Comments

Can'tStandPat • on May 5, 2014 7:18 pm

On the other hand…I’ve heard a lot of talk about a Truth Squad of pissed-off WGA members who plan to show up at events where Verrone is scheduled to appear and politely but firmly tell voters who this guy really is. Sure hope that happens!

WGA Member/Verrone Supporter • on May 5, 2014 7:18 pm

Just to clarify, John Wells was not a direct Verrone opponent. Wells ran against Elias Davis in 2009. Verrone was termed out of office that year. Additionally, while Kiernan did run against Verrone in the previous election, she was a self-professed straw candidate who only ran because the WGA constitution requires a challenger. She is a strong Verrone supporter.

Furthermore, whatever antipathy exists in the Guild towards Verrone by non-supporters in current leadership seems largely muted in this instance of non-Guild politics.

Worked with him once • on May 5, 2014 7:18 pm

He has an odd manner possibly due to being on the spectrum but he is a decent guy who I believe wants the best for the people he would represent.

robert b garant • on May 5, 2014 7:18 pm

and who is he really, brave anonymous person?

ILoveDH • on May 5, 2014 7:18 pm

Robert B. Garant:
Is it really your self-righteous position that people who post anonymously are cowards? If so, I guess you’re claiming moral superiority over something like 95 percent of the folks on this board, who often use the privacy of a pseudonym to prevent career retaliation, or because they work somewhere (talent agency, studio, TV show, etc.) where management would shut them down pretty fast for joining these debates. But as a longtime reader of DH, starting with its amazing coverage of the WGA strike, I have come to treasure the anonymous post from the well-placed, truth-telling insider. And the truth about your Mr. Verrone–though you plainly don’t want to hear it–is that he over-promises, under-performs, has the temerity to describe the strike as a WGA victory when the laughably crappy deal he stuck us with was a shattering defeat… and then he has the additional nerve to make that specious victory claim in burdensome and unwanted e-mails to WGA members whose personal info (i.e. confidential e-mail addresses) he acquired in ways that truly creep out a lot of guild members who have already had a bellyful of the guy. THAT’S who Patric Verrone is.

robert b garant • on May 5, 2014 7:18 pm

you just insulted me, from anonymity. YES, that’s cowardice. what do you call it?

um • on May 5, 2014 7:18 pm

Uh, yes, Kathy Kiernan ran against him because the rule had been you can’t have an uncontested officer election, and she, generously, stood for election that year so that the rules were met. She’s been a hardcore Patric supporter/Writers United type from the get-go, and her supporting him now should not be taken as a “former opponent now supports him.”